Desmond Bane’s emergence has brought renewed attention to a past decision by the Boston Celtics. The Celtics drafted Bane with the No. 30 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. However, they subsequently moved his rights in a three-team deal.
The Draft Day Trade
NBA.com’s official 2020 draft results confirm that the Celtics initially drafted Bane at No. 30. The league’s draft trade tracker then shows that Memphis received Bane and Mario Hezonja. Portland received Enes Kanter. Boston received two future second-round picks from the Trail Blazers.
Many teams did not value Bane at the level of his current production. Many are surely wondering how he fell so low in the draft.
Orlando’s Big Move
The Orlando Magic officially acquired Bane from Memphis in June 2025. Orlando sent out Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Cole Anthony, four first-round picks and a pick swap. The Magic believed Bane fit their style, temperament and timeline.
Bane himself has explained why Orlando made sense. Bane said the fit matched how he sees himself as a player. “That’s my DNA,” Bane said. “I’m a gritty guy. That’s how I’ve made it to this point. You look up and down the roster and we all have similar makeups.”
- Orlando sent out four unprotected first-round picks and a swap.
- This underlines just how aggressive the franchise was in chasing him.
Bane’s Impact on the Magic
The Magic traded for Bane because they believed he could sharpen the offense around Paolo Banchero and Franz Wagner. They also wanted to keep the team’s edge intact. After a February 2026 win over the Clippers, Magic coach Jamahl Mosley said, “You cannot say enough about Desmond Bane. He is just a flat-out winner.”
The Magic believed Bane fit their style. They also thought he would suit their temperament and timeline.
A Missed Opportunity for Boston
For Celtics fans, that makes the old draft-night decision feel more relevant. Back in 2020, he was the No. 30 pick Boston moved for future seconds. Now he is a proven NBA scorer, a high-level floor spacer and a player Orlando viewed as important enough to justify one of the boldest trades of that offseason.
Boston once held the pick that became Bane. Orlando now holds the player. And because the Magic treated him in this way, the draft-night decision is being revisited.